Add another one to Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane’s trophy cabinet — Los Blancos are the champions of Spain.
Karim Benzeman scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Villarreal 3-1 in the club’s penultimate LaLiga match on Thursday at the Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium. The victory meant Barcelona could not catch its archrival regardless of what it accomplished the remainder of the season, awarding Real Madrid its 34th league title. All this despite a maddeningly perfect free kick from Lionel Messi in Barcelona’s shock 2-1 defeat to Osasuna.
Real Madrid claimed its first LaLiga crown since 2017 with one game to spare, an impressive turnaround for Zidane, who returned to the club last March after a year away.
¡SOMOS CAMPEONES!
@LaLiga 2019/20 #34Ligas | #RealFootball pic.twitter.com/XIvjdkKACt— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 16, 2020
La Liga Highlights Thursday
Los Blancos completed a sparkling run of form since LaLiga resumed play following the Covid-19 hiatus, having won all 10 of their matches since June.
Benzema scored in the 29th and 77th minutes, to give Real the advantage it needed to lift the trophy. Benzema’s second goal came from the penalty spot thanks to a retake. On the first attempt, Sergio Ramos tried to pass the ball to a surging Benzema, but both teams had players in the box when Ramos struck the ball and the ref had the kick retaken.
@Benzema takes @realmadriden one step closer to the title! #RealMadridVillarreal - LIVE
beIN SPORTS
CONNECT https://t.co/LRYa03w6yI pic.twitter.com/jnJPCxN9Ft— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) July 16, 2020
Villarreal pulled within 2-1 via Vicente Iborra’s 83rd-minute header, but Marco Asensio put the match away with a 95th-minute strike, making Real Madrid champion regardless of what was happening in Barcelona.
¡CAMPEONES!
FP: @RealMadrid 2-1 @VillarrealCF
@Benzema 29', 77' (p); Iborra 83'#Emirates | #34Ligas pic.twitter.com/uoBXQkQyBS— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 16, 2020
Meanwhile at the Camp Nou, Barcelona went behind in the 15th minute and needed a stunning free kick from Lionel Messi to get back in it. And yes, Barça’s rival clinched the title on Thursday, but the best skill of the day came from Messi, even if he failed to even crack a smile in celebration of the goal.
The goal was mere consolation, however, as 10-man Osasuna scored a stoppage-time winner to rub salt in the Barcelona wound. Barça ended the day with 79 points, seven behind Real Madrid with one match left.
Elsewhere in the league, Atlético Madrid inched ahead of Sevilla in third place by virtue of beating Getafe 2-0. Sevilla was held to a 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad. Both Atleti and Sevilla were already locked into the Champions League.
Leganes gave itself a chance at survival on the final day with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao while Mallorca will need some help to stay up after a 2-1 loss to Granada.
